[Question] | XP Pro complete computer backup

[lakelady]

Today I received one of umptee notices that I should back up my computer, something I haven't done yet since buying it last spring. Reason... it has never been in good enough shape to risk making the "one time only" backup that Microsoft says I can do. The first time I started the computer, I got a virus in an email from my server, and it has been downhill ever since. I've had to do a complete recovery three times. But today I thought it was ok to chance the whole computer backup, so I began the download to a DVD, it did the first disc of two, and then during the "verifying the files" step, it froze. So I stopped the download, and a window popped up saying that I could begin the download at the same place when ever I wanted. I opened the download wizard and tried to resume where I had left off, but it began at the beginning. So I got scared of screwing the whole thing up and stopped it. Now I don't know what to do. Help please, and be aware that I am between newbee and intermediate in experience, am the only user on my computer, and have no one to advice me. I'm using a DVD+R. I have a HP MediaCenter, with XP pro. Much more horses than I need and I'm way over my head with it.